Record loss
Many loose papers are missing, but most record books survive. Many loose county court papers before 1839 are missing. Deed, will and order books survive, and the county's district and circuit court records for 1813–1889 are in Fredericksburg.
Before you give up, try these:
- The Library of Virginia's Lost Records Localities Digital Collection: copies of deeds, wills and other records from this place that turned up as evidence in other courts' files.
- Land tax and personal property tax books, which begin in 1782. Copies went to the state, so they often survived when the courthouse records didn't.
- The records of the parent counties and neighboring counties, where families often bought land, went to court or married.
- Chancery suits, church records, newspapers, Bible records and military pension files. See Burned Counties.
Records that survive
These are the record series the Library of Virginia has on microfilm for Spotsylvania County, with the earliest and latest years filmed. A span can include gaps; it doesn't mean every year in between survives.
Land and deeds
- Deed Book1722–1962
- General Index to Deeds1722–1922
- [Embrey's] General Index, Grantee from Grantor1722–1917
- [Embrey's] General Index, Grantor to Grantee1722–1917
- Processioner's Returns1796–1831
Wills
- General Index to Wills1722–1947
- Will Book1722–1911
Estates and guardianships
- Guardians' Bond Book1849–1851
- Fiduciary Book1893–1909
- Record of Fiduciaries1912–1954
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Licenses1793–1833
- Marriage Register1795–1970
Tax lists
- Land Tax Book1782–1870
Court orders and minutes
- FOR ORDERS1722–1724
- Order Book1724–1903
- Minutes1755–1765
- Record of Executions1756–1771
- Minute Book1774–1832
- Rule Book1786–1906
- Orders, Judgments1792–1795
- Judgment Rule Docket1843–1889
- Docket1846–1889
- Chancery Order Book1875–1907
- Common Law Order Book1875–1973
- Judgment Lien Docket1898–1917
- Clerk's Order Book1966–1972
Elections
- Poll Lists1753–1760
- Poll List1771–1793
County government and the poor
- Board of Supervisors' Record Book1902–1911
See every volume and reel number at the Library of Virginia
Source: Library of Virginia, County and City Records on Microfilm. Reels marked for interlibrary loan can be borrowed through your local library.
Where to find the records
- Spotsylvania County official website
Hours, addresses and phone numbers for the circuit court clerk's office, and any online record search the county offers.
- The circuit court clerk's office
Virginia's deed, will and marriage books are usually kept by the clerk of the circuit court for the county or city, though many older records have been moved to the Library of Virginia. Call before you visit; hours and access to older volumes vary.
- Library of Virginia: Spotsylvania County records on microfilmfree
Every filmed volume with its years and reel number. Use the reels in Richmond; many can be borrowed through interlibrary loan.
- Library of Virginia: Chancery Records Indexfree
Search equity court suits by name. They're rich in family detail: estate divisions, heirs and land disputes. Many localities' suits are scanned and free to view.
- FamilySearch Catalogfree
Search by place for "Virginia, Spotsylvania" to find filmed and digitized records, many viewable free online with a FamilySearch account.
Offices change their hours and access rules; call before you visit.
Boundaries and parent counties
Formed from: Essex County, King and Queen County, King William County
Check the parent counties for earlier records: Essex County, King and Queen County, King William County
Later formed partly from Spotsylvania County: Orange County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1720, search the parent county. The Atlas of Historical County Boundaries shows each boundary change.
Research tip
Start with the deed and will books: they name relatives, neighbors and land. Then try the court order books, which mention almost everyone in the county sooner or later, as witnesses, jurors, road workers or parties to a suit.